What is the cost of living in North Myrtle Beach, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, North Myrtle Beach has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in North Myrtle Beach ranks as #85 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies North Myrtle Beach ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in North Myrtle Beach, check out:
North Myrtle Beach Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in North Myrtle Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in North Myrtle Beach is 101.
The Groceries index in North Myrtle Beach is 98.
The Health index in North Myrtle Beach is 142.
The Housing index in North Myrtle Beach is 98.
The Transportation index in North Myrtle Beach is 98.
The Utilities index in North Myrtle Beach is 96.
| Living Expense | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 142 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 97 | 100 |
North Myrtle Beach Cost Of Living Compared To South Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In South Carolina
- Average Rent In South Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
North Myrtle Beach, SC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in North Myrtle Beach is $390,621.
The Median Rent in North Myrtle Beach is $1,263.
The Median Income in North Myrtle Beach is $72,722.
The Home Value To Income in North Myrtle Beach is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in North Myrtle Beach is 0.21x.
| Statistic | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $390,621 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,263 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,722 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
North Myrtle Beach, SC Costs By Category
Detailed North Myrtle Beach Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.43 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.15 | $45.56 |
Detailed North Myrtle Beach Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.22 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.59 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.51 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed North Myrtle Beach Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed North Myrtle Beach Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed North Myrtle Beach Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Myrtle Beach | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
North Myrtle Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around North Myrtle Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around North Myrtle Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x North Myrtle Beach.
Conway, SC has a cost of living index of 94, 0.8x North Myrtle Beach.
Socastee, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x North Myrtle Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. North Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 38,371 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Conway, SC | 27,263 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Socastee, SC | 23,796 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Red Hill, SC | 15,920 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Little River, SC | 11,771 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Forestbrook, SC | 7,479 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Carolina Shores, NC | 5,017 | 109 | 1.0x |
